South African hooker Schalk Brits was an integral part of the Saracens Aviva Premiership winning season, putting in another great performance in the final a few weeks back, which earned him the Man of the Match award. Earlier this week, he was drafted into the Stormers squad (on loan) for their Super Rugby semifinal.

Brits has been a standout player for the London based side since arriving a few seasons back. While everyone in South Africa always knew what he was capable of, he's now become a fan favourite in the north too, with regular high quality performances and a positive demeanor.

To many, the fact that such a naturally gifted player isn't playing Test rugby is puzzling. He has been capped just 3 times by South Africa, playing in the away leg of the 2008 Tri Nations, then falling out of the pecking order as bigger, more traditional types were picked ahead of him.

As it stands now, John Smit and Bismarck Du Plessis are the front runners for the Springbok hooker spot. With Brits playing his rugby overseas, others have pushed ahead for the third choice slot. Coach Peter De Villiers recently rattled off the names of five hookers that he would pick ahead of Brits, namely Smit, Du Plessis, Chilliboy Ralepelle, Adrian Strauss, and Bandise Maku. They all play in South Africa, which according to PDV, makes it difficult to pick Brits.

This week however, Brits was called over by the Stormers to provide backup for their crunch semifinal against the Crusaders. Having played number eight for them before, he will provide looseforward cover from the bench, thanks to a special dispensation made by SANZAR after the Stormers explained their injury woes, and unavailability of a young player due to a mugging.

"We wanted a player with the X-factor and Brits brings that to the team," said Stormers coach Allister Coetzee. "Sanzar has given him permission to play as a loose forward and not as a hooker. He won't have a problem playing that role because he's been playing like a loose forward, even though he's been throwing in the ball at the line-outs and competed in the scrums for Saracens," he added.

Brits now has one, maybe two, matches to shine. One feels that the chances are miniscule, but this is his last crack at making the World Cup squad. He has shown in the UK that his perceived weaknesses when leaving South Africa - his scrum power and lineout throwing ability - have not been a problem for Saracens. They won the Premiership after all.

"Schalk Brits was just phenomenal, a man possessed," said Leicester and England scrumhalf Ben Youngs after Brits helped Saracens beat them in the Final. "If anything, he was probably the difference between the two sides," Youngs added.

After his first Premiership season in 2009, former British & Irish Lion back Will Greenwood said he's the best signing of the year without a doubt. Austin Healey said after the final this year that Brits could easily be an international center, let alone hooker, and went as far as calling him the best player in the Northern Hemisphere. The plaudits are well deserved, and plentiful.

The guy is a superstar and without a doubt, if he weren't capped by South Africa, it's safe to say he would be going to the World Cup this year. As it stands, his chances are very slim. As fans of the man, and of course his style of play, all we can hope for is a change of heart where it counts.

Brits has done the hard yards and having improved the aspects of play that held him back from selection in the past, is now ready to make an impact on the international scene. Even as a bench or third choice hooker, he's a talent that shouldn't go to waste, and as we've seen on more than one occasion with Saracens, could just be the difference between winning and losing.

Below is a short compilation video of his Man of the Match performance in the recent Aviva Premiership Final. It was chopped down from an original cut that contained over ten minutes of footage and audio praise from the one match alone. If you enjoy the vid, please share the link back to this page with your friends, using the Facebook Share and Tweet buttons below.

First time post.
Great video of an outstanding front row athlete.
I have huge admiration for Rugby Dump- the guys behind it have a contagious passion for the game but the choice of music in most montages is beyond a joke.
The Temper Trap? Really?

I don't understand why he plays hooker, does it mean that we are going to a rugby were all players have the skills and body to play any position?
as a hooker you see him positioned like a 15... that's weird.

The most dynamic forward in Europe today (IMO) and would be awesome to see him as one of those awesome all round replacements, just a quality player that adds something to everything he does or is supposed to do. He can run, he can kick, he is a dedicated tackler, he can offload, and his draw on the pass (the timing that is) is incredible. He can pretty much do everything on the pitch, should be on the bench of SA with all that talent, and given the chance to prove to the world that he is a test talent. I do understand concerns about him not being exactly the best example of a hooker, but the fact that he can at such a level deserves some credit, especially when he is playing like a world class back (here at least). His size is all that is holding him back as hooker for SA, but could be a valuable utility to any squad.

Without a doubt the best player in the premiership, which features a huge number of gargantuan front rows. You would think if his size was a real issue there would have been problems in the scrum throughout the season for Saracens, wrongo!

Pathetic trolling by a Leinster fan just there. 3 comments within the space of ten minutes, talking to himself. Now that is lame :)

Anyway Sean O'Brien isn't dynamic - he's incredibly powerful on the run and a great player. I dont even know why you would compare the two. Both excellent, but in different ways. Maybe try stay on topic? Not sure why I got sucked in, but I did.

Brits should definitely be a squad player for the Springboks. His amazing ability in open play actually makes people think he gets pounded in the scrum! Not the case.

and

"Anonymous said...
He's just been named on the bench for the Stormers to take on the Crusaders in the Semi's of the Super 15."

They aren't the same person. They all write completely differently. Anyway O'Brien is dynamic by the way and they play very similarly actually. I'd love to see Brits on the back row. If I was the Stormers coach, that's where I'd play him.

He's an awesome player indeed, does everyhing requird in modern rugby extremely well.

When you analize the hooker options available in South Africa, there's Bismark Du Plessis (who in my opinion, even though he really enjoys a fight, is the best hooker in the world), then you've got John Smit, whose form has dropped massively since RWC 2007, but who will be kept as captain and as a front rower by de Villiers.

Then there's Strauss, Maku, Ralepelle... all good players but definitely not Test good.

If South Africa are really hoping on having an impact in this World Cup then SARU should stop being such hypocrits and leave politics aside... After all, they've called Pienaar and Muller, who both play in Europe. Should definitely call as well the likes of Brian Mujati, Richardt Strauss and Schalk Brits, and drop those players that clearly don't deserve to be there (Spies, Jacobs, Ralepelle...) And encourage guys like Sarel Pretorius, Elton Jantjies, Bjorn Basson, Duane Vermeulen, Juan de Jongh, Gio Aplon and many more.

Du Plessis should start along with Smit and Mujati and bully the opposition, and then you throw Brits in to add some spice on it.

Saracens scrum has been amongst the most dependable in the AP this season. Which I'd suggest makes it amongst the most dependable in the world.

So he ticks that box.

"frontal hits..."

Except he doesn't miss tackles. And as the clip shows has the pace to make tackles that no front row has any right to.

And as shown in the clip, even when he gets a double hammering he still has the skill base to offload. And the pace and step to ensure he always gets over the gain line. So yes, he can't trundle straight up. But no, that in no way suggests a big lump would bring more "go forward" to the team.

Line out throwing used to be a criticism. It's not anymore.

"as a hooker you see him positioned like a 15... that's weird."

A lot of sides position a forward there, usually the 8. What's obvious from the clip again is that Brits is played there because of his pace and handling skills... in fact it was his placement there that led to the game-deciding try. So not that weird, just smart.

It's a real shame that PDV and rugby selectors elsewhere have got so caught up in only picking home grown players. There's no doubt that Brits has developed hugely as a player in the AP (surely ending criticism of the selection of players like Fourie by the "He wasn't good enough down here" brigade) and he'd light up the world cup. Don't see SA having many players capable of that right now, and as an England fan I hope it hurts them.

I think the music works really well some people are so precious aren't they?

Brits is so much better than the other choices that PDV mentioned, i mean c'mon Chillyboy? He should go as 3rd choice just to give them that x factor choice.

Its a real shame he's been playing during the reign of coaches who pick who they want and not who's best for the team. Jake White: only big players, PDV: no explanation needed.
I'm sure if he was playing when Nick Mallet was coach he would be in the squad.

P.S: Why did Johnson pick Mauritz Botha? i think hes a pretty solid player but hes not good enough to be picked ahead of English players

Unrelated to current post but does provide springboks with great hope.... although charl McLeod should not be ahead of pretorious.. any way, only one miracle at a time... If PDV wants to retire from international rugby that could be good too. would love coetzee to take the helm.
-me

I don't see what's so spectacular about him? He's just a back rower playing as hooker. He misses his throws as much as he gets them. You could play Powell,Sean O'Brien, Spies, etc. in his position and get the same results.

I'm not trying to take him down or anything because he's a great character on and off the field, but he's really just a good running back rower playing as a hooker.

Different styles of running I forgot to say. Brits makes his own and offloads. Strauss sometimes makes his own run, but generally just runs a good angle / always supports the runner and takes an offload.

A very good player. He made his decision on the World Cup when he left the Republic. You can't go for the big bucks and expect to play for your country. At least not yet... By the next RWC it will probably be like soccer is now.

It wouldn't be fair to the other hookers playing Super Rugby to select him.

Brits is a fantastic talent no doubt but as I watch these clips, I see a player who certainly seems to play an opportunist game. Hanging back waiting for kicks, running in the back line, running down wingers.

No doubt a great player, buts the commitment at the breakdown, where's the turning over of the ball (if he's such an accomplished loosie)?

I actually rate him behind the Leinster saffer hook who players a 2's role with a lot of graft.

Dynamic player, fantastic talent but I understand the bok hesitation on selecting him.

Great clip - fantastic editing & music.
Without doubt the most complete rugby player in the world. The problem is that he isn't the typical stereo-type hooker. Well done to Saracens for looking past that, and seeing a game winner. And that is exactly what mr Brits is. How many man of the match nominations has he won over the past few seasons? How many of his tries have been nominated as "try of the season"? How often has he broken the game-line, created a try, made a crucial tackle, win a crucial line-out, supply the assist, etc. etc.
From his 1st game in the Northern hemisphere (check the highlights when he played for the Barbarians) to his last (the video supplied will suffice) - he has been immense. Pitty the world won't see him strut his stuff at the WC.

I'll conclude with what I like the most of this guy - he plays the game with pure enjoyment & love. Thank you for the entertainment you have given true rugby lovers!

He's a good player, but not as amazing as some people make out.
He's small for a hooker, and while you often get away with that at the level he plays, it's not somethign that you really get away with at Test level.
The Premiership is also not really the same speed of play as Super rugby or the speed the Boks play at, so it's hard to assume that his acheivments at that level could be matched at international level.

The funniest thing (which RD alluded to) is that if he wasn't capped by SA, he would almost certainly have been picked by England in another of their ridiculous "you play in England and that makes you English" selections.

"I see a player who certainly seems to play an opportunist game. Hanging back waiting for kicks, running in the back line, running down wingers.

No doubt a great player, buts the commitment at the breakdown, where's the turning over of the ball (if he's such an accomplished loosie)?"

Every side puts at least one player back with back three for receiving kicks. It's often the 8. Saracens use Brits. Because he does things like sets up the try in the clip. It's not about a player making an individual choice to not get involved in the rucks - it's about a professional teams coaching panel deciding who does what best, and at Saracens they've correctly identified that Brits is their best open field running forward, is good under the high ball and has a good enough kick to pass if needed.

Anonymous said:

"Hell be owned by the Saders for his all action style and crazy running the upcoming weekend."

Because Super rugby doesn't have room for all action players and open field running? WHAT?

Followed by Ishmael and Jhonno amongst others saying he can't throw in. Do you people watch rugby? Will, lovely job, worth repeating:

"He's small for a hooker, and while you often get away with that at the level he plays, it's not somethign that you really get away with at Test level."

He's an inch shorter than William Servat and he's heavier. Is Servat too small for a Test hooker?

N also said:
"The Premiership is also not really the same speed of play as Super rugby or the speed the Boks play."

South Africa play a fast open game? And even if they did, what about Brits' play suggest he couldn't play that type of game?

Randnotpound said:

"You can't go for the big bucks and expect to play for your country.

It wouldn't be fair to the other hookers playing Super Rugby to select him."

The current Boks squad includes:

R. Pienaar of Ulster
F. Steyn of Racing Metro
B. Botha who has signed a contract with Toulon
V. Matfield who spent a highly paid season in Toulon without being dropped from the squad
B. James who has been at Bath since 2007
J. de Villiers who spent a season lining his pockets with euros at Munster

So you clearly can go for the big bucks and play for SA. And in the current squad two players there are two European based player. So why not 3?

I see Richardt Strauss has collected quite a few fans during his time up there. And while hes good, hes not even the best hooker in his family. His cousin, Andries (who plays for the Cheetahs) has always shaded him, and has just had a phenomenal season with the Cheetahs. Now theres the hooker who should really feel hard done by when the WC squad is announced.

Brits is awesome but "the best player in the northern hemisphere" as austin Healy claims is an outrageous statement...hes is probablty the best player in the Premiership; which, Healy is probably forgetting. is currently the weakest league in the Northern Hemisphere.
SA have an insane amount of front row talent...Ricardt Strauss is also completely snubbed by them and was phenomenal for Leinster all season...im sure there is probably a SA front rown in 90% of the clubs around Europe that would be well capable of playing Test rugby!

@ hackney griffon""He's small for a hooker, and while you often get away with that at the level he plays, it's not somethign that you really get away with at Test level."

He's an inch shorter than William Servat and he's heavier. Is Servat too small for a Test hooker?

N also said:
"The Premiership is also not really the same speed of play as Super rugby or the speed the Boks play."

South Africa play a fast open game? And even if they did, what about Brits' play suggest he couldn't play that type of game?"

You actually make some fair points.

It is maybe unfair to suggest he's too small. I don't think he has the same presence as Bismark or Smit though.
And that's actually the crux of it. If the Boks didn't already have Bismark (one of, if not the best hooker in the game) and Smit (As an option off the bench he's excellent and he brings great leadership to the Boks), then Brits might get a look in. Also the Boks need a few players basically not to be white (sorry, but we all know that's true), they will probly pick Rallapele as their 3rd hooker.

So they just basically have too many good hookers to really desperatly need him.

In regards to the speed of play, the Boks might play a forward orientated, kick chase game, but they do it at a very high speed and massive intensity. Much more than you'd ever find in a premiership game.
They may not play flashy rugby or have the most dangerous backs, but they are not slow in their play. Not at all.

Anyway, I may just get proven wrong, who knows what could happen. Smit or Du Plessis might get injured, Brits might come off the bench for the stormers and score four tries. Maybe the Boks brought him back for these games to see if he was ready for the WC.

Oh and I didn't say he definatly couldn't handle the pace at international level, just that you can't assume he would, based on what he's done in the premiership.
Alot of good players get found out at the top level.

What is this as a percentage of their total lineouts? That's the important stat. Their entire game is based on kicking now and they have more lineouts than most teams. All they ever do is kick the ball. Not to mention they have some of the best jumpers in the league.

"I see Richardt Strauss has collected quite a few fans during his time up there. And while hes good, hes not even the best hooker in his family. His cousin, Andries (who plays for the Cheetahs) has always shaded him, and has just had a phenomenal season with the Cheetahs. Now theres the hooker who should really feel hard done by when the WC squad is announced."

He's always been shaded, but I've never seen R. Strauss play as well as he has been playing for Leinster. I'd go for Richardt over his cousin. Wouldn't mind seeing him come back. One thing's for sure, we Saffas produce some quality players.

"I see Richardt Strauss has collected quite a few fans during his time up there. And while hes good, hes not even the best hooker in his family. His cousin, Andries (who plays for the Cheetahs) has always shaded him, and has just had a phenomenal season with the Cheetahs. Now theres the hooker who should really feel hard done by when the WC squad is announced."

He's always been shaded, but I've never seen R. Strauss play as well as he has been playing for Leinster. I'd go for Richardt over his cousin. Wouldn't mind seeing him come back. One thing's for sure, we Saffas produce some quality players.

There is a tradition for hookers to play a more open game than the other tight forwards.

From my understanding this was started, in South Africa at least, by Uli Schmidt, who is regarded as one of the better Springbok hookers.

It was carried on by the likes of Jeremy Paul of Australia, an Irish gentleman by the name of Keith Woods, and to a lesser extent by Phil Greening of England, amongst others.

If you can hit his jumpers (the stats show that he can), and if he can scrum (Saracens had a very strong scrum), then it doesn't matter if he doesn't play a traditional hooker. He has an incredibly high work rate, makes tackles, makes the hard yards, and then also has the x-factor which creates trys so that his team can win finals.

It is a shame that he is South African, as his talent seems to be wasted on us.

problem with that is most number 2's around the world are grafters and get through a mountain of work. Him spending the whole game hanging out back waiting for kicks means theres one less forward doing the hard yards up front.
Ah well who am i to talk, theyve onviously found a way to work around that.

Have always been a fan since the WP and Stormers days. He scored so many brilliant tries, made so many too. Unforgettable. And always smiling.
Awesome athlete, awesome attitude.
Damn jealous that the Northern Hemi. gets to watch him nowadays and not us.